JSWGAS Chapter 115

115.

Almost no one could imagine that the second game’s tug-of-war would last so long; and what people didn’t expect even more was that the decisive point at the end of this game would end with Aoba Johsai completely blocking Shiratorizawa’s Ushijima.

“Oh no, I kind of want to cheer for Aoba Johsai’s number 12.” A girl from the Shiratorizawa cheering squad covered her heart, “Too———cool!”

More than one of her companions beside her showed approving gazes, “I know, I know! He actually managed to block a ball that could break someone’s arm! And did you see that! The best thing is definitely the contrast, right! He was just coldly blocking Ushijima-kun’s spike, and the moment he turned his head he could smile so dashingly———my heart was stolen by him——”

“Your heart has already been stolen by Aoba Johsai’s setter once.” A companion ruthlessly pointed out, “And it’s also been stolen by Ushijima-kun.”

“——One of the fragments of my heart.” The girl’s expression didn’t change, “Aren’t you the same?”

Companion: “…I am, you win.”

Kokonoe, who was taking off the bandage on his hand on the sidelines, suddenly turned his head vigilantly, looking around.

Iwaizumi noticed, “What’s wrong?”

“No…” Kokonoe Taka locked his gaze on Tendō who was waving at him from the team on the other side after a long while, “It must be my imagination.”

“You’re really something!” Hanamaki jumped out from the side, holding a clean towel in his hand, screaming, “That was Ushiwaka’s spike! Even the middle blockers in the national competition wouldn’t dare to guarantee that they could block him! You actually blocked it, ahhhh!”

Matsukawa, who was a step behind, followed and explained, “This guy was so excited that he hit me twice.” He showed off the pinch marks on his arm, “Thanks to him, I’m not that excited anymore.”

Not only the two of them, but even the commentator was greatly amazed by the block just now during the break. Hanamaki almost praised him to the heavens and the earth, all-powerful, and soon Oikawa also joined in, and began to argue with Hanamaki about his performance, and the topic quickly went off track.

Kokonoe Taka sat aside and chuckled, after the bandage on his finger was removed, it revealed some redness and swelling, but moving it around didn’t hinder him much. Matsukawa’s gaze swept over his hand, turned his head and said something to the second-year Watarida. Before long, he handed Kokonoe an ice pack for him to apply.

Next door, Hanamaki and Oikawa’s digression was quickly corrected by Iwaizumi’s rather intimidating gaze, and the former finally remembered to distribute the towels to them, “So how exactly did you block Ushiwaka?”

This question also attracted the attention of the upperclassmen next to him. Kokonoe Taka pondered for a moment in the eager eyes of the crowd, “Shiratorizawa just had many options to choose from. But none of them can score as forcefully as before. Plus the pressure of being scored on continuously, the most likely thing Shiratorizawa’s setter will do is to give the ball to Ushiwaka.”

“Ushiwaka had already prepared for the attack when the first pass was in place.” He paused, the palm of his hand that had just touched the ball was still hot even with the ice pack applied, “His posture did not change due to physical exhaustion. But in order to maintain his power, he had to make adjustments in the air; the setter’s high ball gave him the opportunity to accumulate power. In this case, I don’t think Ushiwaka would give up a strong attack because of the ‘risk of being blocked’. …The rest is to seize that moment.”

He said it lightly, but everyone knew how difficult it was to see these things in the ever-changing situation, and even more rare was that he seized that fleeting opportunity. And the latter was based on Kokonoe Taka’s excellent reaction speed, calm observation and analysis, and a strong determination to block Ushiwaka.

Someone couldn’t help but ask, “What if Ushijima didn’t choose a strong attack? What if you can’t block it?”

As soon as this was said, it became quiet all around.

There is no such thing as ‘absolute’ in competition, and anything can happen before the end of the game. It is true that this possibility clearly exists. But everyone who steps onto the court knows in their hearts that Ushijima Wakatoshi is not someone who would give up a great offensive opportunity in front of him: especially since that pass itself is suitable enough for him. As the team’s ace, what reason does he have to hesitate?

And in the brief silence, the person sitting on the bench pressing his fingers was calm, and the sharp and bright eyes almost cut through all the hesitation and confusion.

“Does Ushijima Wakatoshi need conservative tactics?” He didn’t pause, “Then why does Shiratorizawa need Ushijima Wakatoshi?”

Answering a question with a question is always the most rogue-like method. But the questioner was still speechless by these two questions. And after thinking about it and finding the answers to these two questions, and then looking at the person sitting there, one couldn’t help but discover the coldness hidden beneath the calmness.

——Aoba Johsai is the same.

No one is standing here to lose.

“Why do you know Ushiwaka so well?” Hanamaki muttered, “Oh no, I thought of the scene where Oikawa was invited by Ushiwaka before. Won’t Ushiwaka come over after the game and invite you in addition to Oikawa?”

Matsukawa said solemnly, “I won’t allow it. Iwaizumi, what do you think?”

Iwaizumi cooperated with a sneer, “Don’t even think about it.”

Only Oikawa was exasperated, “That’s too scary! Just talking about this possibility makes me want to vomit!”

Kokonoe thought for a while and answered Hanamaki’s question.

“Because if it were me, I wouldn’t back down at that time.”

If someone else said this, it might be considered bragging. But coming from Kokonoe’s mouth, it seemed as if it should be. The reliability of the junior made people feel at ease, but the unstable atmosphere was still fermenting in these three or five seconds——

“How do you feel?” Arawata seemed to have lost his sixth sense, and rubbed the sweat on his palm onto Saijō’s back with a smile. The latter sneered and used his last bit of strength to stomp on Arawata’s sneakers, and answered amid Arawata’s screams, “Although I really want to say that I can continue,” His voice was hoarse, and he said with difficulty, “But I need to rest for at least one game to recover a bit.”

…An unavoidable choice.

Most people participate in club activities because they are relaxed and happy. As early as the beginning of the school year, various sports clubs ushered in a wave of withdrawals, and those who are still here now are not people without perseverance. But actively changing players and being forced to are two extremes. Especially in games with strong schools, this difference can even affect the outcome of the battle. And under such conditions, not to mention whether they can keep up with the rhythm of the game. Just from the aspect of ‘whether the mentality can remain balanced’ is enough to make people have a headache.

Even Coach Irihata couldn’t help but feel troubled, and when he raised his eyes, he saw several second-year students with stiff expressions as if they were about to go to the guillotine, speechless while at the same time unable to help but worry. While he was still hesitating, Saijō, who finally mercifully released Arawata’s sneakers, didn’t even look at the other party’s distorted face, and completely gave up expression management, maintaining a half-dead facial expression and opened his mouth.

“——Matsukawa,” he said, “How about it?”

Long after, when they entered society and reunited again, the first thing Matsukawa Issei recalled when he looked at Saijō Osamu’s face was this forced recommendation. Saijō’s blurred face also suddenly filled with vivid colors from a thin piece of paper and hearsay when this sentence landed. They were both middle blockers, but the intersection between the two of them only stayed on the relationship between a polite junior and a smiling senior. Compared with the intersection between Kokonoe and Saijō, it was even more bland. Why Saijō recommended him at that time also became one of the top ten unsolved mysteries of Aoba Johsai that Matsukawa would think of from time to time.

——But now, Matsukawa was so frightened that he dropped his water bottle. Oikawa quickly caught it, and observed his petrified expression with great interest.

Coach Irihata looked at Matsukawa thoughtfully, “Reason?”

“It’s not me bragging.” Saijō said expressionlessly, “Apart from me, no one can stably get a touch from Ushiwaka…”

Kokonoe chuckled vaguely, “Oh?”

“Okay, let’s add this little monster now.” Saijō quickly changed his words while maintaining his indifferent face, “It’s impossible to master the rhythm of blocking in a short time. Under this circumstance, I suggest changing the tactic of originally using the touch to organize a counterattack to a route that restricts spikes…or use the method that Oikawa is good at.”

“Leave a gap to induce a spike?” Oikawa raised his eyebrows, obviously understanding his meaning immediately, “Use the attackers’ psychology of avoiding the block to create a trap…can give it a try.”

“Matsukawa is very good at blocking in this regard.” Iwaizumi also understood, “The rest can be supplemented by others.”

Another main blocker who blocked Ushiwaka said easily, “I have no problem.”

Miyano and Furue also nodded one after another, and the latter had already begun to whisper about the ground support that needed to be coordinated. So this matter was quickly decided at a speed that even the person involved couldn’t react to, and the unease not long ago disappeared. Matsukawa Issei didn’t consider himself to be a genius, and there were many people who worked harder than him. The only thing he could show off was probably his height. He opened his mouth, watching Coach Irihata quickly pick a second-year spiker from the team to replace Miyano who also needed to rest———when he wanted to speak, he saw several second-year middle blockers showing similar relieved expressions.

“Sorry, Matsukawa.” One of them patted him on the shoulder, his eyes very strange, “Perform well, it can’t be helped if you can’t block it…”

If he didn’t understand the development of the situation at this time, then after he walked onto the field with the others and heard the whispers from the audience seats, he understood most of it as a matter of course.

“Another first-year? Could it be that his level is very good?”

“Aoba Johsai only has one outstanding middle blocker, Saijō, oh, and that number 12…”

“Changed someone, so does that mean Saijō finally couldn’t hold on anymore? Alas, it seems that Aoba Johsai is still going to lose this time.”

——Those are pitying gazes.

After this thought appeared in his mind, he quickly turned his head and glanced at the middle blocker seniors. That’s right, just as he guessed. They had already retreated before going on the court, and didn’t move with the mentality of ‘impossible to block’. After Matsukawa suddenly realized this, he couldn’t tell what he was feeling in his heart. Shiratorizawa’s cheering slogans poured in like a landslide, almost submerging the relatively narrow court and himself. This strange tension made his hands and feet stiff, and his temples were throbbing. He was already dry-mouthed before the game even started.

The number of people who can move forward without hesitation in this world is ultimately a minority. Matsukawa Issei’s mind was blank, and the desire to go on the court and the fear of the team losing the game because of him danced with swords and shadows in his heart. Until someone next to him gently pushed him forward, the voice perfectly overlapping with the calm and firm tone not long ago.

——”Because if it were me, I wouldn’t back down at that time.”

“Don’t back down.” Kokonoe Taka said, “——Look forward.”